Stam gives session mixed grades

House Minority Leader Paul Stam gives the session a mixed report card.

The Apex Republican said he was satisfied with his party's ability to block objectionable bills, though he wishes that more of it's bills got a chance to be heard. His grades:

Stopping Bills: A. Stam was glad that minority Republicans were able to block a tax on small businesses to pay for a high-risk insurance pool and a bullying bill that included references to sexual orientation as well as several proposed tax rate increases.

"Basically, they were unwilling to pass any new taxes because we had the votes," he said.

Passing Bills: D. He was upset that Democrats didn't allow a constitutional amendment to limit eminent domain and a tax credit for special-needs children to attend private school or be home-schooled to be voted on.

"They just don't bring our bills up for a vote," he said.

Legislative Process: B+. Stam said that about seven times this session the Democratic leadership called for a vote on a bill or amendment without a debate, including major votes such as the 2007 state budget and bills on the death penalty.

"Under (disgraced former Speaker) Jim Black, that would have happened about 70 times," he said. "There's been a vast improvement but the majority is still using its ability to stifle debate."

Correction: An earlier version of this post misstated two pieces of legislation.

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Re: Stam gives session mixed grades

Submitted by Cdickson on July 19, 2008 - 10:14am.

Stam appears to be using the same farce of a grading scale to evaluate this session that the Dept. of Public Instruction uses to "grade" end of grade tests.

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Re: Stam gives session mixed grades

Submitted by mbrock49 on July 19, 2008 - 5:34am.

Stam must be losing his touch. If he excuses the sham of debate (all orchestrated by the "Big Chairs") on the Budget Bill, he does not retain the right to call the Republicans the "Loyal Opposition." Someone, especially the Minority Leader, should have called their bluff on the budget, and required time to really know its content before voting. I had too many conversations with legislators, who professed to me, at least, to have no idea what was in the final version voted on on the floor of the House and the Senate.

This is a travesty on the General Assembly's legacy.

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Re: Stam gives session mixed grades

Submitted by Prospero on July 18, 2008 - 4:56pm.

Perhaps they will judge him as unwilling to take a symbolic vote on an unconstitutional "feel good bill" egregious of Free Speech.

Do you really want to imply that everyone else present supported that bill out of a feeling of indignation, that making a stupid thing equal to a Class H Felony, equal to strangulation, out of a sense of its being The Right Thing To Do, or was it because they were unwilling to take the political heat for not doing something?

Is burning an American Flag not just as intimidating, like yelling fire in a crowded theater?

The Supreme Court didn't think it constituted either a Clear and Present Danger or even a Compelling State Interest, and ruled that rare practice here in the United States to be protected Free Speech.

I suspect they would similarly rule the same to any challenge to this silly bill. If being stupid becomes a crime, they’d have to arrest three forths of the people communting down I-40 every morning.

And it was a silly bill, especially in light of what a handful of powerful men refused to give a hearing, or a debate, despite the fact that they were supported by vast numbers of North Carolinians and would also pass overwhelmingly.

To give this dumb, useless bill a hearing, that gives over to symbols a power greater than they deserve or would have done otherwise, is probably unenforceable and invites a devise, unnecessary constitutional challenge, was ridiculous.

At least he voted. Six Members apparently took a walk.

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Re: Stam gives session mixed grades

Submitted by persondem on July 18, 2008 - 11:55am.

I wonder how voters will grade Stam's vote on S685. On Thursday, the NC House overwhelmingly passed the bill by a vote of 113-1. S685 makes displaying a noose, burning a cross, or wearing a hood or disguise for racial intimidation more serious crimes.

Stam was the one vote in opposition.

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